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Author: Joshi Haskell

Admissions Meeting: Jan. 11 – 6:30pm

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Community News.

Join Meeting (offline)

This event will be virtual. The “Join Meeting” button above will connect you on the day of the event:

  • When: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 6:30-7:30pm.
  • Enrollment Opens for 2022-2023: January 14, 2022.
  • How to RSVP: Families interested in attending should begin by filling out the Admissions Inquiry form if not already done.
  • Rolling Admissions: Parent interviews will be scheduled in the order in which applications are received. This event is a required step for beginning the application process and will count as a tour while we observe COVID-19 safety protocols.

Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake City serves children aged 3 months through 6th grade. Our mission is to provide an authentic Montessori experience that nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole individual, instills a love of learning, encourages acts of peace, and empowers all.

One of the great strengths of our school is its community of parents, students, and staff. We appreciate and are grateful for the word of mouth referrals by our current families and ask that you pass the information along to friends and/or family interested in Montessori education.

General Admissions Information Meeting: January 11, 2022, 6:30pm – Facebook Event

Please share this event on Facebook with friends or family.

Join Meeting (offline)

Upgrading our Masks

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Community News.

Erin Lipovich is the parent of a Wasatch student, and an avid researcher. She has kindly compiled the following information to help the community source quality masks. Thanks Erin!

The cloth masks recommended earlier in the pandemic helped prevent those infected from spreading covid-19. Today, with more highly contagious variants spreading, medical personnel are urging everyone to upgrade from cloth to more protective masks that also keep the wearer safe.

Masks certified as N95 (USA), KN95 (China), KF94 (Korea), or FPP2 (Europe) have been tested and proven to filter out >94% of all aerosols, including airborne viruses such as covid-19. Unfortunately, sources like Amazon are overrun with fakes, making it best to buy your masks from reliable sources.

  • The N95 Project – a non-profit dedicated to providing access to trustworthy personal protective equipment – only sells masks guaranteed to be genuine.
  • Bona Fide Masks, as the name suggests, only sells masks that have been certified as genuine and is the sole US distributor of Powecom Brand KN95 masks.
  • Armbrust is a manufacturing company in Texas that sells masks “designed, developed and made in the USA.” Wanting to help people find trustworthy masks wherever they can, the company has made their extensive testing database public and searchable.
  • Aaron Collins, an aerosol expert known to the internet as Mask Nerd, has been testing masks since the start of the pandemic. His results, found HERE, have a special section on masks for children. He also has a YouTube channel.

As we enter year three of the pandemic, working together and following best practices will help keep our community as safe as possible.

Winter Sports Starts January 12, 2022!

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Winter Sports 2015

The Winter Sports program at FMSL started back in 1994, spearheaded by our very own Brandi Alllen. Brandi, a former ski instructor, was very much involved in the program in those formative years and is delighted to see how it has grown and expanded since then.

Winter Sports 2015

This year we were fortunate to have our safety measures and the overall preparation for Winter Sports reviewed by Peter Girardi. We are so very grateful for his advice and guidance. Peter is a coach with Valvoline Racing, a private ski team, traveling for Nor-ams and European race and training projects. Prior to that he was on the Men’s Alpine staff at Killington Mountain School in Vermont. He was also part of the Student Life department and helped write the Covid-19 Response for the school. He is the proud parent of Theo in Sego Lily (Infant Class).

Winter Sports 2017

The intent behind our Winter Sports Program is that the experience as a whole lets our students have a real-life group driven opportunity to practice the life skills they have been learning and practicing in such a safe environment here at FMSL. And it is an opportunity to let our students explore one of Utah’s greatest beauties- the mountains and our incredible snow!

Winter Sports 2019

One of the reasons we appreciate Snowbird’s Ski Program is that they take an approach to individualized instruction that is similar to our approach here at FMSL. Snowbird instructors go through intense training on how to meet the needs of each student in a group. Please keep in mind that these lessons are peer-oriented and groups are bound to contain students at varying levels of mastery in the skill sets being worked on. Some students will be close to the peak of that skill set and some will be further down. We ask that you place your trust in the ski program to group our students as they see fit. As these lessons continue on, it really is a collaboration as a group to learn and practice.

Have a Wonderful Winter Break

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Brandi and I wish you and yours a safe and restorative Winter Break. 2020 has been challenging to say the least yet we are so very grateful to have had such a wonderful community with which to face the challenges. On behalf of Robyn, and all the staff, we want you to know that we greatly appreciate your support and partnership. You have made this school year possible. See you in 2021!

Brandi & Margaret

Holiday cheer from the on-site crew of Cherie, Brandi, Sabine, Margaret, Jemmyn, Candace, Nanette, Lian and Felipe

What is the Capstone Year and why does my child deserve to have one?

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Parent Education.

We often refer to the 3rd year a child is in a Montessori program as the Capstone Year. But what is it that really makes the year so special and important? We invite parents of our current 2nd year students in Early Childhood and Lower Elementary and 4th year students in Upper Elementary to consider the following reasons we recommend providing your child with their Capstone Year.

Reasons to Stay:

  • Is your child learning, happy, and engaged? If so, consider yourself lucky. Why tinker with a winning situation when so many other families are frustrated or disappointed with their child’s school experience.
  • Your child has waited for two years to be a leader in their class. The third year students are looked up to as role models for the younger students, and most children eagerly await their opportunity to play this role.
  • The third year is the time when many of the earlier lessons come together and become a permanent part of the child’s understanding. Leaving early means many of the still forming concepts evaporate.
  • As a leader in the class, your child has many opportunities to teach the younger children lessons that they learned when they were their age. Research proves that this experience has powerful benefits for both tutor and tutoree.
  • Third Year Montessori children normally go on to still more fascinating lessons and more advanced Montessori materials. The natural process of abstraction or critical thinking around familiar concepts materializes naturally and gears the child up for more advanced skills.
  • The Montessori curriculum is more sophisticated than that found in traditional programs.

  • Having spent two years together, your child’s teachers know the students very, very well. They know their strengths and areas that are presenting challenges. 3rd years can begin the year strong, without having to build a relationship of trust with the teacher.
  • Your child already knows most of their classmates. They have grown up in a safe, supportive classroom setting. They are learning appropriate social boundaries and interactions with a group of familiar peers.
  • Montessori math is based on the European tradition of unified mathematics. Montessori introduces young children to basic geometry and other sophisticated concepts as early as kindergarten. Our spiraling curriculum means students will revisit these skills and build on them throughout their elementary experience.
  • Third Years have a real sense of running their classroom community, an important leadership skill that goes on with them.
  • In Montessori, your child can continue to progress at their own pace. In traditional education, they may have to wait while the other children begin to catch up or will be forced to move ahead before they are ready.

  • Beginning as early as kindergarten and continuing through elementary, Montessori children are studying cultural geography and beginning to grow into global citizens.
  • In Montessori, students work with intriguing learning materials instead of preprinted work books, allowing a student to work on a skill for the right amount of time for their own understanding and not by a predetermined timeline.
  • Your child has been treated with deep respect as a unique individual. The 3rd year student is ready and able to recognize and reciprocate this respect and contribute to the culture of the school and their community.
  • Montessori schools are warm and supportive communities of students, teachers, and parents. Children can’t easily slip through the cracks!
  • Montessori consciously teaches children to be kind and peaceful.

The Capstone Year in Upper Elementary- 6th year students carry the peace dove in our annual walk on International Day of Peace.
  • In Montessori schools, learning is not focused on rote drill and memorization. Our goal is to develop students who really understand their schoolwork.
  • Montessori students learn through hands-on experience, investigation, and research. They become actively engaged in their studies, rather than passively waiting to be spoon-fed.
  • Montessori is consciously designed to recognize and address different learning styles, helping students learn to study most effectively.
  • Montessori challenges and set high expectations for all students not only a special few.
  • Montessori students develop self-discipline and an internal sense of purpose and motivation.

Three, six, nine and twelve years old are natural transitional ages for children. They are the best time for children to move to new classrooms or schools.

While the reasons to leave can be compelling and are worth every consideration, we believe the reasons to stay are worth your careful and thoughtful consideration.

(Adapted from Tim Seldin’s 25 Reasons to Keep Your Child in Montessori Through the Kindergarten Year, Tomorrow’s Child.)

COVID-19 Vaccination in Children 5-11 years of Age

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

By Jessica Graham, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Physician, FMSL Parent and Thomas Hanff, M.D., Heart Failure Cardiologist, FMSL Parent

Pfizer recently performed an mRNA vaccine trial in children aged 5-11. After study results were released, an emergency use authorization (EUA) was approved for children in this age range. However, some parents still have questions or concerns.

​Reason for Hesitation ​Facts About COVID-19 and Vaccination
COVID infection is mild in most kids. ​The Delta surge has increased hospitalization five-fold among childrena
8300 kids 5-11 have been hospitalized due to COVID-19b,c
30% of kids hospitalized with COVID-19 had no underlying health conditionsb
172 kids aged 5-11 have died from COVID-19 b
2316 kids aged 5-11 have developed MIS-C after COVID-19
2% of kids who get COVID experience post-acute “long-COVID” sequelaed
​I’m concerned the vaccine will cause my child to have myocarditis.​ ​There were zero cases of myocarditis in Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine trials in kids aged 5-11e*
When they occur in older children, the cardiac effects of the COVID virus and MIS-C are more severe than those from the vaccinef 
​I think I’ll just wait to see how other kids do. ​Utah’s COVID-19 numbers are still high, with holidays coming up and your child in school, there is a chance they would get COVID while waiting to see what happens to kids getting vaccine
Getting vaccinated helps keep vulnerable members of the community (babies, immunocompromised, those who cannot get vaccinated) safec
​I don’t want to negatively affect my child’s fertility. ​There is no evidence that the COViD-19 vaccine causes fertility problemsg
​I don’t want my kid to have to suffer from the side effects. ​The CDC recommends vaccination in children who have had SARS-CoV-2 infectionc
Antibody responses to immunization are generally more robust and predictable, and potentially longer lasting, than natural immunity from the infection
​My child is really good at wearing a mask. ​Masks are very helpful at helping prevent infection, but not perfect, especially when infected people aren’t wearing themh
​I looked at the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and saw some scary side effects . ​VAERS is solely a place for people to report things that happen around the time when they get the vaccine; it does not guarantee causationi
​I’m concerned the vaccine may alter my child’s DNA. ​COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with DNA in any wayi
​The vaccine development and testing process was rushed. ​Coronavirus and mRNA vaccines have been studied and developed for over 2 decadesj
​I plan to wait until my 11-year-old is 12 so they can get the higher dose. ​The lower dose led to just as robust an immune response with fewer side effectsk

Trial Detailsl

  • Trial included ~3100 children
  • Children received 10-mcg dose (1/3 the adult dose)
  • Vaccine efficacy 91% (high compared with many other vaccines)

*In older children (16-29 years), the incidence of myopericarditis after vaccine is 1 per 5,750. Therefore, it is possible that because even if myopericarditis were going to occur at the same rate in the 5-11 age group, the trial would not pick it up because the total number of children in the trial was less than this.

However:

  • Most cases of myopericarditis have occurred between 16-29 years; Rates of myopericarditis after vaccination are much lower in the 12-15 year age group in studies done in Israel and the U.S
  • It is hypothesized that the lower dose used in children 5-11 is less likely to cause myocarditis
  • In general, the incidence of myocarditis from other causes is lower in this age groupf; myocarditis mostly happens in post-pubertal kids
  • Even if it does occur, the cases of myopericarditis have overall been mild and children have recovered well

Our gratitude to Jessica and Thomas for writing this very helpful article.

References

a https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7036e2.htm

b https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-11-2-3/03-COVID-Jefferson-508.pdf

c https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html

d https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/getSharedSiteSession?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelancet.com%2Fjournals%2Flanchi%2Farticle%2FPIIS2352-4642%2821%2900198-X%2Ffulltext&rc=0

e https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/17751/FDA-panel-Benefits-of-COVID-19-vaccine-for-ages-5?autologincheck=redirected

f Vaccine-related myocarditis is milder compared to MIS-C (Comparison of MIS-C Related Myocarditis, Classic Viral Myocarditis, and COVID-19 Vaccine related Myocarditis in Children. Trisha Patel, Michael Kelleman, Zachary West, Andrew Peter, Matthew Dove, AreneButto, Matthew E. Oster; medRxiv 2021.10.05.21264581; doi:https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.05.21264581)

g https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/planning-for-pregnancy.html

h https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-long-history-of-mrna-vaccines

An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19, Jeremy Howard, Austin Huang, Zhiyuan Li, Zeynep Tufekci, Vladimir Zdimal, Helene-Mari van der Westhuizen, Arne von Delft, Amy Price, Lex Fridman, Lei-Han Tang, Viola Tang, Gregory L. Watson, Christina E. Bax, ReshamaShaikh, Frederik Questier, Danny Hernandez, Larry F. Chu, Christina M.Ramirez, Anne W. Rimoin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jan 2021, 118 (4) e2014564118; DOI:10.1073/pnas.2014564118

i https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

j https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-long-history-of-mrna-vaccines

k https://www.healthline.com/health-news/should-11-year-olds-wait-until-they-are-12-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine

l https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use-children-5-through-11-years-age

The Adult Skills of the Montessori Child

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Parents often wonder about the extraordinary lessons of Montessori that seem beyond the norm for young children. An example would be the uniqueness of the Botany Cabinet with its eighteen different leaf shapes and exotic names – obcordate, hastate, and reniform. Or the Geometric Cabinet with its 26 different shapes that children master and become conversant with the differences between obtuse angled isosceles triangles and acute angled scalene triangles as well as knowing quadrilaterals, trapezoids and heptagons

  • These exercises develop the adult skills of comparing and contrasting, analyzing and discerning differences while learning the underlying significance of the differences.
  • They learn to understand – not just memorize – what they study then they apply it to the world around them discovering the patterns and constructs that make up their world. It is very common for Montessori children to continue to discover all around them the shapes and contours of their world. A mother once took her three year old into the restroom. She came out shocked as the child had pointed out the quatrefoils in the air freshener.
  • This attention to detail, this analysis continues for a life time. It leads to learning outside of the box, to continually discover the world around you and apply these early-learned skills to resolving the challenges of business, and science and math. It gets applied to art and music and relations and management. It touches and enriches every avenue of life.​
  • In the Montessori environment are also the Botany Puzzles and the Zoology Puzzles that bring a “visual dissection” of plants and animals where the child views the components of flowers and leaves and frogs and birds and develops not only an appreciation for detail but for wonder of the world around them.
  • Then there are the globes and the maps with the study of continents and countries with the exploration and knowledge of a great big world. They learn the names of faraway places which in today’s world are no longer far away.
  • The Montessori math experience is one of understanding – not memorization. It goes from the concrete to the abstract of addition and subtraction and multiplication and division. Math becomes, not only a learned skill, but an understood one. And with that comes the comfort and excitement of facing challenges.
  • Montessori children are taught to work for mastery – making mistakes is part of the learning process and success comes at the end of trials and errors. Real life success goes to people who don’t quit until the job is done which is the norm of a Montessori experience.
  • Montessori children develop a large vocabulary that accompanies their amazing breadth of experience and knowledge from within their classroom. It has been shown that one factor of adult success is a large and varied vocabulary.

The Montessori classroom provides a unique and solid base from which children launch themselves into life with the beginning skills of adulthood already in use and waiting to be applied to greater and greater challenges.

 by Edward Fidellow

Gearing Up For Winter Sports

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Thanks so much for all of your support in helping your student to be prepared for this wonderful opportunity to experience the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”

Remember to clearly label each piece!

Your student must have the following items each week:

  • Skis (& poles if appropriate) or board
  • Ski bag containing the following items:
    • Ski/board boots
    • Helmet
    • Goggles; if you can’t see, you can’t ski or ride!
    • Waterproof & wind resistant, breathable insulated pants and parka
    • Waterproof gloves or mittens
    • Neck gaiter
  • SOCKS are critical. Be sure to provide one pair of socks that fit well, and are NOT cotton (this will make for cold feet!). Imagine wrinkled socks and uncomfortable feet; and be sure your child doesn’t have them.
  • Long underwear
  • Fleece top/sweater
  • 2 face masks

Practise makes Perfect

Letting your student practice packing and wearing their gear will set them up for success and make Winter Sports days fun for everyone! Time spent practising putting gear on and off and carrying it around by themselves will allow your child to be confident, comfortable, and independent.

Registration is Due Now.

Forms can be accessed using this link. ​

The Montessori Transition

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Parent Education.

A common concern for Montessori parents is how their child will transition out of Montessori into a traditional setting. The question is valid but the concern may be overblown. Yes, there will be transition challenges. Those are an integral part of life – preschool to elementary, elementary to Jr. and Sr. High, to college, to a job, to marriage, to parenthood and on and on.

It is certainly nice if life can remain stable and unchanging (well, maybe not the 2:00 A.M. feedings.) But change is inevitable. The first transition for the Montessori child might tend to be more dramatic than for a child that didn’t have the privilege of attending a Montessori school. However, the ability to handle the change is better developed in the Montessori child.

 The Montessori child has developed coping skills

A traditional setting may not be as stimulating for the Montessori child. It may not offer the same opportunities for independent thought, learning and action. It might be more group oriented. It might be more teacher directed. Yes, it will require transition skills from your child. The good news is – your child has been developing adult coping skills all along in his or her Montessori experience. Even if your child can’t use all of the skills he or she has learned, they will not have gone to waste; they will not be lost. They will surface again and again as they are applied creatively to every day situations.

While non-Montessori students may be waiting for direction and instruction, the Montessori student will take the initiative and begin formatting plans for achievement. Though Montessori students have been raised in a non-competitive environment their training in initiative will give them a head start in competitive environments. Success also comes to the Montessori child because he or she already knows how to work with people; how to cooperate; how to collaborate.

The ultimate success that works in transition is that the Montessori student knows how to finish what she starts and that is not affected by whatever kind of environment she finds herself in. You don’t win unless you finish. Montessori children are great at finishing – and winning.

 The Montessori child takes initiative

There are going to be challenges but the advantage that your Montessori child takes with him or her are worth the minor inconveniences of transition.

by Edward Fidellow, www.crossmountainmedia.com